
White Pelicans are commonly seen on lakes, lagoons, and in the air. Many winter in Fort Bend--that and migratory fly overs are the primary time we get to enjoy them in Fort Bend County, Texas.

Before the 1970’s White Pelicans’ breeding colonies were mostly north of 40° N Latitude. They now have large and small breeding colonies on the Texas Gulf Coast. Beginning in the Laguna Madre near Brownsville on the border with Mexico, breeding colonies have spread along the entire Texas Gulf Coast.

Graceful by air or water, this big bird wattles on land with its large body, webbed feet.

Unlike its Brown Pelican cousin which dives for food, the White Pelican lands and feeds by dipping its head in the water to scoop up fish. In fact, White Pelicans may circle around a school of fish to feed. Sounds like a Pelican "Rodeo" or circled wagons. Literally the White Pelican casts it pouch like commercial fisherman cast nets. However, most of the fish these birds enjoy are not commercially sought after fish on the Gulf Coast.

Since the White Pelican winters here, can migrate fall and spring . . . or has breeding colonies that are year round, this is a great bird to enjoy in a variety of habitats and ways all along the Texas Coast.

A migratory "fly-over" the White Pelican enjoys soaring on low, mid and high thermals. A flock is quite a sight to see in the air or landing. This flock is flying on a lower thermal likely looking for new fishing spots so they are not in the classic V they fly during migration.
Why do migratory birds such as geese, ibis, ducks and pelicans fly in a V? A report in the journal Nature, and a report syndicated by the New York Times and picked up by the January 16, 2014, Houston Chronicle, reports how with high tech equipment followed a flock of 14 northern bald ibis migrating from Austria to Tuscany. Long story short . . . everyone saves energy being in the in the V, but the leader who change positions periodically. Each position in the V requires changing wing phasing. The fancy way to say this is the V provides aerodynamic advantage via an updraft of air in the wake of the flapping wings.
Larry Leggett of Quail Valley submitted the following picture, which I have cropped a couple of times to show how American White Pelicans fish in groups. Two of the birds are showing how the birds dip the heads to the side to fish unlike the saltwater Brown Pelicans that dive for food.

Below is detail of one group of fishing White Pelican's. Please note how one pelican is dipping its head to the side like a fisherman casting his net. Thanks Larry for the photo! Photos on Kiamesha Weir near Quail Valley Golf Course La Quinta #5.

The two photos above courtesy of Larry Leggett
Talk on Nature's Highway . . . finding and attracting birds.
Monday, January 27, 2014, 6:30 pm, Brightwater Garden Club.
Brightwater Clubhouse. Free to public. Contact Diane Giltner 281 499-0695.
Living in Fort Bend County with its diverse habitat for birds provides novices and dedicated birders many opportunities to enjoy birds. Janice Scanlan, who writes this blog thanks to Margaret Sloan's wonderful pictures and knowledge, will speak at Brightwater Garden Club on practical ways to find and attract birds . . . and the role your garden can play . . . illustrating with pictures.
Learn about Project FeederWatch which occurs from November to April . . . anyone can help keep count of the birds on feeders and it makes for some great family fun! Learn more.
Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.
See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 150+ bird species just in her suburban Fort Bend,Texas backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan. Click photos to enlarge them.